NCHSAAFB

Knights trounce Cavaliers to reach Western finals

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 24, 2023
Robbinsville - The Black Knights made it look easy Friday night, steamrolling the visiting North Rowan Cavaliers 44-14 to ensure another trip to the Western finals. Robbinsville (No. 1, 13-1) outclassed North Rowan (No. 4, 11-3) on the ground, 459 yards to -44 from the Cavs.
Senior quarterback Donovan Carpenter gives instruction to the Robbinsville Black Knights’ offense prior to a first-half play in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday against Swain County. Carpenter heavily credited the perseverance of the Knights in the 30-24 win to the program’s main theme this year: “brotherhood.” Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Senior quarterback Donovan Carpenter gives instruction to the Robbinsville Black Knights’ offense prior to a first-half play in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday against Swain County. Carpenter heavily credited the perseverance of the Knights in the 30-24 win to the program’s main theme this year: “brotherhood.” Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Brotherhood

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Robbinsville – What. A. Comeback. The Black Knights could have easily thrown in the towel after Swain County punched ahead 24-8 in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday. The Maroon Devils never led in the Smoky Mountain Conference title game Oct.
Chase Calhoun (2), Quinn Jumper (12) and Kellen Ensley drop Swain County's Joshua Collins for a loss during Robbinsville's 30-24, third-round playoff victory Friday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Chase Calhoun (2), Quinn Jumper (12) and Kellen Ensley drop Swain County's Joshua Collins for a loss during Robbinsville's 30-24, third-round playoff victory Friday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Shout at the Devils

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Robbinsville – What. A. Comeback. The Black Knights could have easily thrown in the towel after Swain County punched ahead 24-8 in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday. The Maroon Devils never led in the Smoky Mountain Conference title game Oct.
Tillman Adams (24) lowers the boom on Mountain Island Charter’s Caleb Shin during Robbinsville’s second-round playoff victory Nov. 9. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Tillman Adams (24) lowers the boom on Mountain Island Charter’s Caleb Shin during Robbinsville’s second-round playoff victory Nov. 9. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Preying for relief

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The box score from Robbinsville's second-round playoff victory over Mountain Island Charter on Nov. 9, 2023. Robbinsville – Through the first two games of the postseason, the Black Knights have outscored visitors 95-14.
Quinn Jumper is shown rushing for one of his two touchdowns last week against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Jumper did not find the end zone Thursday against Mountain Island Charter – but his defense kept the Raptors rocked throughout Robbinsville's 40-7 triumph in the second round of the state playoffs. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Quinn Jumper is shown rushing for one of his two touchdowns last week against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Jumper did not find the end zone Thursday against Mountain Island Charter – but his defense kept the Raptors rocked throughout Robbinsville's 40-7 triumph in the second round of the state playoffs. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Raptors prey for relief

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – Through the first two games of the postseason, the Black Knights have outscored visitors 95-14. Thursday’s second-round playoff appointment with the Mountain Island Charter Raptors played out much like the round-one showdown with Thomas Jefferson on Nov.
Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Record keeper

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. Robbinsville – When Rylee Anderson hung up his jersey for the final time in 2019, he did it on perhaps the biggest high possible for a running back: fresh off a state title and fully cemented as the school (and Smoky Mountain Conference) all-time rushing leader.
Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams leaps across a mixture of limbs Oct. 6 at Murphy. In the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Adams broke the all-time rushing record for both the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams leaps across a mixture of limbs Oct. 6 at Murphy. In the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Adams broke the all-time rushing record for both the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Adams breaks record; Knights dominate Gryphons in playoff opener

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 3, 2023
Robbinsville – When Rylee Anderson hung up his jersey for the final time in 2019, he did it on perhaps the biggest high possible for a running back: fresh off a state title and fully cemented as the school (and conference) all-time rushing leader.
Knowing the outcome of the play was fully in the bag, Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams reaches back for a high five from Tanner Hedden during his 102-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in the late stages of Friday’s win over Swain County. The victory solidified the Black Knights’ 27th divisional title. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knowing the outcome of the play was fully in the bag, Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams reaches back for a high five from Tanner Hedden during his 102-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in the late stages of Friday’s win over Swain County. The victory solidified the Black Knights’ 27th divisional title. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

How the SMC was won

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 2, 2023
The box score from Oct. 27, 2023's Smoky Mountain Conference title game between Swain County and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Friday’s divisional title game was everything it was built up to be – and then some.
It did not take long for Bob Colvin Field to become heavily occupied Friday night, moments after the Robbinsville Black Knights secured their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference title by defeating Swain County under the Big Oaks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

It did not take long for Bob Colvin Field to become heavily occupied Friday night, moments after the Robbinsville Black Knights secured their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference title by defeating Swain County under the Big Oaks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Whatizit? It’s Robbinsville, again

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 27, 2023
Robbinsville – Friday’s divisional title game was everything it was built up to be – and then some. Two programs with a decades-old rivalry – Robbinsville and Swain County – spent 48 minutes in combat on Bob Colvin Field, vying for the premier bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Black Knights senior Chase Calhoun leaves Hayesville’s Isaac Chandler lying in his wake Friday, while attempting to navigate through the Jackets defense. Calhoun later reeled in a 60-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of Robbinsville’s 26-20 triumph. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Black Knights senior Chase Calhoun leaves Hayesville’s Isaac Chandler lying in his wake Friday, while attempting to navigate through the Jackets defense. Calhoun later reeled in a 60-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of Robbinsville’s 26-20 triumph. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Enduring a sting

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 26, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. Robbinsville – It wasn’t pretty, but the Black Knights avoided the need for a EpiPen to prevail over Hayesville on Friday, 26-20.